Francisco de Paula Santander

Francisco de Paula Santader (2 April 1792-6 May 1840) was the President of Gran Colombia from 1819 to 1826 and later the President of Colombia from 1832 to 1837, having fought alongside Simon Bolivar during the South American Wars of Liberation.

Biography
Santader was born in Villa del Rosario de Cucuta in present-day Colombia, and began his military career at the age of 18 in 1810 after studying as a law student. He fought for an independent Venezuela during the South American Wars of Liberation and at the Battle of Boyaca on 7 August 1819 he proved himself as a great commander under his superior, Simon Bolivar.

In 1821 he was elected as Vice President of Gran Colombia, which was founded in the aftermath of the liberation after the Battle of Carabobo. However, he became an opponent of Bolivar after the wars, and tried to assassinate him in 1828. Santader was initially sentenced to death but Bolivar pardoned him. He was exiled until after Bolivar died in 1830, and he returned in 1832 to become President of Colombia after the breakup of Gran Colombia with Bolivar's passing. He died in 1840, having served two terms as president.